Heart&Stroke OneStep extra-curricular resource is free of charge to schools and is theirs to keep. Each participating school will receive enough pedometers for all their grade seven girls and a leader handbook which includes suggested activities, parental consent forms and other useful forms.
Being an extra-curricular resource, schools may use the resource however it works for them. During the Pilot phase of the project, many Junior High schools started girls clubs and walked together at lunch time. The girls appreciated having a chance to walk and talk and also learned how many steps per day they were accumulating. This resource is a great opportunity to have older students mentor younger students and lead walks and activities.
This resource has been approved by the Department of Education and communicated through each School Board. Heart and Stroke is hoping schools will find this resource a valuable tool to help support girls in junior high school to continue to be physically active while providing them a chance to connect socially as well.
To find out how to get the resource in the Junior High school in your area, you may contact Catherine Droesbeck at [email protected]
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Heart&Stroke Walkabout is interested in putting feet back on the streets and walking back in the hearts and minds of Nova Scotians. While physical activity is important for both males and females of all ages; Heart&Stroke Walkabout has recently branched out to support the physical activity needs of Nova Scotian girls in Grade 7.
According to a study titled Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth (2005) only approximately 20% of females in Grade 7 met the study standard of physical activity and these results continue to drop to less than 1% of females in Grade 11 meeting the recommendations.1
From November 2010 – February 2011, 16 junior high schools across the province participated in a youth focused pilot project. Participating schools were selected based on school board region, interest and ability to participate. The purpose of the pilot project was to gather feedback on the use of pedometers and accompanying extra- curricular activities in supporting Grade 7 girls to be more active. Here are the results:
The pedometer kits are currently being updated based on the feedback received from the pilot. Recruitment letters will be distributed to schools across Nova Scotia who did not participate in the pilot to expand distribution in Fall 2011. In the future, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia is planning to provide a Grade 7 curriculum supplement to junior high schools as well.
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1Health Promotion and Protection. (2005) Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth in the Province of Nova Scotia. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from
http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/pasr/akhk-research.asp
The team members include: Joseph Arthur, Dartmouth; Samantha Burns, Halifax; Robert Ellis, Millbrook; Melissa Legge, Halifax; Meranda Oliver, Kingston; Brianna Smith, Parrsboro; Jonathan Smith, Glace Bay; and Sarah Warnell, Lower Sackville.
“We have a diverse and creative group, and we’re thrilled to have all of them on the team,” said Fran Dunn, Physical Activity Coordinator at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia. “The videos all provide a different perspective on walking. From using humour or fear, to literally taking us in a walk, these participants point out a number of factors that influence the choice for youth to walk and we can’t wait to work with them to find out more.”
A youth walking strategy is one of the latest components of the Foundation’s Heart&Stroke Walkabout initiative, which launched in October 2007. The contest was sponsored by CTV with support from Rogers, Aerobics First, the Lord Nelson Hotel and Acadian.
The contest was open to all youth ages 13-16 in Nova Scotia. Despite expressive interest and promotional efforts, only eight submissions were received. According to Dunn, this provides even more of an opportunity and underscores the need of action that involves youth from the beginning. “This contest was our first step to engage youth in the walking culture we’re creating. We need to understand what motivates them; do they even think walking and walkability are issues that affect their lives? We don’t know, but we have a team to help us find out. The submissions we received were incredibly thought-provoking and demonstrated time and commitment from those who participated.”
As part of the contest, YouTube viewers could also vote for their favourite submission. Over the course of the month-long contest there were over 1,000 views of the contest with many comments and votes. Members of the Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM Youth Action Team will be outfitted with cellphones courtesy of Rogers and will receive cool clothing gear from Aerobics First. In addition, the team will get to know each other over the next couple of months as they discuss hot to get their peers walking. The team will spend two days together in Spring 2009 to help advise on the development of the walking program.
To view the winning videos, visit www.youtube.com/walkaboutns. Dunn notes that the opportunity to create your own walking message is not over. “Creating a walking culture is just beginning,” said Dunn. “We want Nova Scotians of all ages to help tell and share their walking story with us or among their friends. Post comments or videos to our YouTube channel or check out our cool viral application tool on the Heart&StrokeWalkabout website at www.walkaboutns.ca and tell us where walking takes you.”
Heart&Stroke Walkabout is a five-year physical activity initiative of the Heart&Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, and the Ecology Action Centre. It is not a fundraising initiative. Walkabout is supported by Pfizer, the presenting sponsor, Nova Scotia Department of Health, and Pharmasave. For more information visit www.walkaboutns.ca.
Contact:
Allen McAvoy
External Relations Manager
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
423-7682 x 321
Jolene Titus
Communications Manager
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
423-7682 x 315
]]>October 6, 2008 | Halifax, N.S. - Teenagers from across Nova Scotia are asked to “take a walk” for a chance to win great prizes including trip to Halifax and a spot on a special youth action team. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia and CTV have launched a province-wide contest to find youth to help them develop a walking program.
“We know that Nova Scotians, including young Nova Scotians, are not active enough for their health and we want to find the best way to support them,” said Fran Dunn, Physical Activity Coordinator at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia. “We want youth to help us understand how we can support them to walk more through Heart&Stroke Walkabout, so we’ve launched this contest with CTV to find youth to help us with this task.”
Nova Scotians13-16 years of age are eligible to enter the video challenge. All they have to do is shoot a one-to-two-minute video that shows how to get young people to walk more and what walking in their town means to them. The contest closes November 14. Full submission details are available at www.contest.walkaboutns.ca.
Semi-finalists in the one-of-a-kind contest will be determined by voters of all ages, who are encouraged to rank videos on Walkabout‘s YouTube channel. Ten winners will then be determined by the panel of judges. In addition to cool prizes including a cell phone and clothing, the winning videographers will form a Youth Action Team and come together in Halifax to inform a plan to encourage young people in Nova Scotia to walk more.
The contest is the latest component of the Heart&Stroke Walkabout initiative, which already includes an interactive website to support current walkers in the province. In addition to this contest, a media campaign for walking is also planned for launch later this month. “Developing a walking strategy for youth is one of several components of the initiative to ensure it provides a comprehensive approach to increasing physical activity in the province,” said Dunn. “Developing tools to support community, workplace and school settings are part of those current activities.”
The youth contest is sponsored by CTV with support from Rogers, Aerobic First, the Lord Nelson Hotel and Acadian. Heart&Stroke Walkabout is a five-year initiative of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, and the Ecology Action Centre. Walkabout is supported by Pfizer, the presenting sponsor, Nova Scotia Department of Health, and Pharmasave. For more information visit www.walkaboutns.ca.
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Contact:
Jolene Titus
Communications Manager
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
(P) 423-7682 Ext. 315
Email: [email protected]
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